Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Roger and Charles Ingersoll,started one of the oldest American watch company.In 1892, with help from Henry Ford, they developed an automated production for watches, producing pocket watches of course ,but also,some of the first wrist watchesat the affordable prices of 1$ while maintaining the quality that they’re famous for. While that sounds ridiculously low during these days, one must understand that at that time it was worth a day’s wage. The “Dollar Watch” took off and approximately one million were produced.

The famous “Dollar Watch” became known as the “Yankee” and its success sealed forever. The brothers had to increase their production by opening more plants. With the help of new technical advances in the field and refinement of the watches, they also produced the smallest pocket watch ever made. In 1919, the Ingersoll brothers developed the first watch with a ‘night design’ called the “Radiolite’ that had a luminous dial [seen in the dark],as pictured above. To this day Ingersoll Watches remain high on the list of collectors....

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

not much is know about this Swiss brand.Very similar in look to its US counterpart ,this military issued watch has a nickel chromed case,black dial and great little Swiss mouvement that keeps perfect time.got to love its simple look . Silvana was a major supplier to the German army and air force during ww2 and are still affordable for a vintage military watch .

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

today's featured boot ,is a rare Ike Walton model by the famous Russell company.These,were obviously well taken care of ,to arrive in Riveted's vault 90 and some years later in that awesome condition .The Ike Walton is the obvious forerunner of the now popular "birdshooter" model,as it has very similar in its design .Called the company and they confirm the model ran from 1915 to early 1920's.

It's hard to believe,especially nowadays, that the iconic hunting boots worn by countless hunters the world over, have been,for more than 108 years,hand made in the same building in Berlin, Wisconsin

The Russell company started in 1898 when it's founder Will Russell hand crafted his first pair of boots for the then booming Wisconsin logging business. Quickly,hunters and outdoor's men recognized the value and toughness of the Russell's hand sewn boots...thus a legend was born.

A young traveling salesman with a genuine interest in the outdoors named Bill Gustin,joined the company in 20's . Armed with a degree from Ripon College, Gustin quickly spread the word about Russell's hand made moccasin and boots.After W.C. Russell's death in 1924, Bill, a competitive skeet shooter,hunter,fisherman,was aware of the company's greater potential.He foresaw sports men's needs and bought the company.The rest as we say, is history.

In the early 1930's Gustin introduced the now famous Birdshooter model along a line of oxfords, loafers and casual shoes.

Bill Gustin ran Russell Moccasin for 55 years and was joined in the business in 1956 by his son-in-law, Ralph Fabricius ,who took over the company ,when Bill passed away in 1994 ......

-- Today, Russell Moccasin still makes one pair at a time, hand lasted, hand cut and trimmed, hand sewn...with quality and pride.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Well ! it's kinda hard to accurately date these i must admit.The only clue, was that it was found at an estate sale in an old victorian era spice box among other samplers used for quilting and cabinet style photos . It has been cut in two and only this portion has survived .I had to rescue it from the dumpster....

Thursday, February 2, 2012

In 1945, Bogart bought a 55-foot (17 m) sailing yacht, the Santana, from actor Dick Powell. The sea was his sanctuaryand he loved to sail around Catalina island. He was a serious sailor, respected by other sailors who had seen too many Hollywood actors and their boats. About 30 weekends a year, he went out on his boat. He once said, "An actor needs something to stabilize his personality, something to nail down what he really is, not what he is currently pretending to be."

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

QUOTE FROM THE WANDERER BY STERLING HAYDEN: To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. Otherwise, you are doomed to a routine traverse, the kind known to yachtsmen who play with their boats at sea... cruising, it is called. Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change. Only then will you know what the sea is all about. "I've always wanted to sail to the south seas, but I can't afford it." What these men can't afford is not to go. They are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of security. And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine - and before we know it our lives are gone. What does a man need - really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in - and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That's all - in the material sense, and we know it. But we are brainwashed by our economic system until we end up in a tomb beneath a pyramid of time payments, mortgages, preposterous gadgetry, playthings that divert our attention for the sheer idiocy of the charade. The years thunder by, the dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed. Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life?